Teddy Roosevelt kicked off Shark Week by donning a shark mask for Monday night’s presidents race at Nationals Park.
The Rough Rider raced furiously from behind, slowly catching up to front runner William Howard Taft and attacking from behind.
It was the first time Teddy has donned the makeshift shark teeth since Shark Week 2011.
Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome
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It’s been a postseason of redemption for Nationals racing president Teddy Roosevelt, who is on a sudden winning streak after losing 525 straight races.
Facing possible elimination Thursday night at Nationals Park, infielder Mark DeRosa read the team a speech by Teddy Roosevelt before the game. Then, when the presidents race began, the Nats trotted out an all star cast of Teddy’s past nemeses to help exorcise his demons.
As George, Tom, and Abe raced around the warning track towards the first base line, they were met in succession by a who’s who of bad guys.
Long-time interloper That Cat tackled George Washington. Then a shark who attacked Teddy in August took out Thomas Jefferson.
Luc the Lobster, who has made several appearances over the years, tackled Abe Lincoln.
By that time, George Washington was back on his feet and actually passed Teddy and looked ready to steal the victory, but Mr. Kool Aid, a fan favorite who last appeared in 2010, appeared from the stands and decked the founding father.
Teddy turned around and fell backwards over the finish line, then pranced and posed around the stadium, basking in the glow of victory as the sellout crowd chanted his name.
On the national broadcast, TBS analyst Bob Brenley took Teddy to task for his celebration. “You’re pimping it a little bit in front of the other presidents,” he said. “Act like you’ve done it before.”
After 7 seasons of losing, most fans seemed willing to cut the Rough Rider some slack.
Filed under: Presidents Race, teddy wins, Videos | Tagged: "That Cat", Luc the Lobster, Mr. Kool Aid, shark, Shark Attack | 1 Comment »
It was oh so close.
Teddy came within a hair of winning presidents race #499 Friday night as the Washington Nationals racing presidents kicked off their latest homestand with a tribute to the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.
Teddy Roosevelt entered the arena for the 4th inning race sporting shark teeth and a makeshift dorsal fin. He trailed the pack from the start, but got assistance from the same shark who had attacked him during the
presidents race 400 meter individual medley two weeks ago.
The accomplice shark raced ahead, and with Teddy trailing behind him, took down Abe Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, leaving Teddy in the lead in the home stretch. Victory was Teddy’s for the taking, but a pause to glance over his shoulder proved to be his undoing and the window a resurgent Lincoln needed to come from behind and steal the race at the wire (slo-mo video below).
Friday’s loss sets up a historic 500th presidents race Saturday night at Nationals Park. Presidential speechwriter Paul Orzulak recently called for a Teddy victory in the 500th race in The Washington Post. Paul will be in attendance Saturday night. Here’s hoping Teddy Roosevelt gives us our money’s worth.
Finish line video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome
Photo by @michaelprflores via Twitter
Filed under: Videos | Tagged: 500, Paul Orzulak, Shark Attack, Shark Week | Leave a comment »
The Nationals racing presidents continued their week of Olympic tributes with Friday’s doubleheader at Nationals Park, mixing the predictable with the absurd, and extending Teddy Roosevelt’s winless streak to 496 races.
The newly dismantled Miami Marlins arrived in town early for an afternoon makeup game, and the lightly-attended affair included a presidents race first: members of the Nat Pack and the “Secret Service” who escort the presidents around the ball park participated in an Olympic presidents race 4-man relay.
Secret Service member Scott took the first leg vs. Nat Packer Terrance before handing things off to Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, respectively. Lincoln extended the lead, and by the time Nat Packer Jason got the baton to George Washington for the anchor leg, he was way behind, but Teddy’s baton transition was weak and he faded in the home stretch, handing George the win.
By the time game 2 began, 32,334 fans had arrived, and the day of presidents race firsts continued as the evening crowd was treated to a 4th-inning spectacle that was worthy of a Fellini movie.
In the first-ever presidents race swim meet, the giant-headed Rushmores entered the stadium wearing goggles and swim caps, and advanced around the warning track making swimming motions with their arms in the styles of the 400 Meter Individual Medley– first the butterfly, then the backstroke, the breast stroke, and freestyle.
Teddy, of course, tried to “swim” while carrying an inner tube.
As if the surreal image of Thomas Jefferson leading the pack of “swimmers” down the first base line wasn’t enough for the Nationals Park crowd, a person in a shark costume then appeared out of the Nationals’ bullpen.
With the shark chasing the field, what happened next was inevitable, and Teddy’s humiliation was complete.
“And that is the most mutant looking shark I’ve ever seen in my life,” said color commentator F.P. Santangelo on the MASN broadcast. “That is an outfield shark, folks.”
Video below:
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